100 Tips To Attract Birds

            H.S. Dhiman

Landscaping

  As far as possible grow native plants in your garden. These plants are naturally adapted to the climate of your area and are excellent for the birds.

   Evergreen trees and shrubs are important for the birds as cover, winter shelter and nesting sites.

    Grasses and legumes provide cover for the ground nesting birds. Some of them also provide seeds to the birds.

   Summer-fruiting plants such as cherries, raspberries, blueberries, grapes and plums will attract a large number of birds like towhees, robins, thrushes, woodpeckers, cardinals, etc.

   Fall-fruiting plants, namely, dogwoods, mountain ash, winterberries and cotoneasters are an important food source both for migratory and non-migratory birds.

      Grow flowers. Flowers attract      insects and insect-eating birds.

      Create transitional spaces by growing low shrubs and vines between tall trees and open spaces.

 Different species of birds like to live at different heights. Therefore, provide varying levels of habitat by tall trees, small trees, shrubs and ground cover.

     Brush piles

   Make provision for brush piles, heaps of leaves, dead trees, vines, tall grasses and wild flowers in your back yard. They serve as shelters and sources of food to the birds.  

   While making a brush pile, keep larger rocks or logs at the bottom and smaller ones at the top. The bigger the brush pile, the more animals it will attract.

   A brush pile should be built on a base of larger material, so that it creates tunnels for hiding places, nests and escape routes for the birds and wild life.

     While cleaning your back yard, leave behind some leaves at certain places. Leaf litter is a great spot where birds will forage for insects and seeds.

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